A Hands-on Look at the Pentax K-1 Silver
Latest special edition Pentax DSLR
By PF Staff in Hands-On Tests on Oct 31, 2017
The Limited Silver edition of the Pentax K-1 hit the shelves late last month, and is now nearly sold out in the US. It has become more or less a tradition for Pentax to offer silver versions of its flagship camera models. You can read about other special models here. In other cases, such as that of the Pentax KP, a silver variant is made available at launch.
A lot of users initially wondered if the silver finish of this K-1 matches that of Pentax's silver lenses. The answer is "yes"- as you can see in the photos, the camera blends in perfectly with the FA* 300mm F2.8 lens. Here is a list of all silver full-frame lenses from Pentax. While some may be hard to find, these lenses are the perfect pairing for a Pentax collector, and also double nicely as tools for professional photography. The silver versions of all HD DA-series Limited lenses likewise match the silver K-1's finish, but with the exception of the 40mm, these lenses should be used in crop mode.
Click here to order your K-1 Limited Silver before it's gone ($2196)!
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Review of the Off Road Hiker 30 Backpack by Manfrotto
By bdery in Hands-On Tests on Jun 16, 2017
Some of the advantages of Pentax DSLRs are their ruggedness, weather resistance and generally compact size. Partly because of this, the brand draws quite a following among hikers, campers and the like.
Carrying photo equipment when on a trail is not a simple as on a city street. Luckily, many bag manufacturers have recently begun catering to the needs of outdoors photographers. Bags and backpacks for hiking remain a frequent topic in our Accessories forum and every user has a different opinion. In the near future, we will present reviews of some of the most interesting proposals on the market.
Today we present our first test with the Manfrotto Off Road Hiker 30. Manfrotto is a well-regarded brand in the camera industry, and their backpack offers some interesting and unique features. How does it perform on a trail?
The Amazing High-ISO Video Performance of the Pentax KP
Sample video footage at various sensitivity settings
By Albert Siegel in Hands-On Tests on May 18, 2017
When it comes to video, the new Pentax KP may not seem like a major update at first look, let alone cutting edge, as the specifications hardly seem any different than the K-3 II. You need to look beyond the spec sheet to get an idea of why I consider this to be the best Pentax camera so far.
Yes, I realize compared to the K-3 II it's still a 24 megapixel sensor, the autofocus points have not been increased, the maximum mechanical shutter speed is a bit slower, but in reality the KP is a vast improvement in these areas and more. The still images from the new KP sensor are already cleaner than full-frame from just a couple of generations ago. The shutter speed is also faster if you use the electronic shutter. But the area where the KP really shines is video quality.
The Pentax KP is by far the very best Pentax camera for video and one that compares quite well with the competition. The high ISO performance in video is just incredible and reason enough to buy the KP no matter which Pentax body you own, except perhaps the K-1 which carries an inherent advantage due to the sensor size.
Previous crop models struggled at anything near their maximum ISO of 3200, but the KP gives clean video up to 6400, very good at 12800, and usable if a little noisy at the upper limit of 25600. This is the first Pentax camera that I can say with complete confidence that truly is excellent for video. Pentax owners no longer need to look over the fence with envy (unless you really want/need 4K) for great DSLR video. This improvement can in part be attributed to the newer sensor and noise reduction hardware that's in the KP.
But describing video quality without seeing it is like listening to a wall to hear what color it is, so with that in mind, please take a look at the following video to see for yourself.
Yes, electronic stabilization is still the only option, but Ricoh has hinted that mechanical video SR will make a return in the KP and K-1 through an upcoming firmware update.
Please post any questions or comments and I'll do my best to answer them. And before you ask, yes, I will find out about clean HDMI output out as soon as I get a cable. Unlike other Pentax cameras with an HDMI port, the KP requires a special SlimPort USB adapter for video output.
You'll also be able to learn more about the Pentax KP in our upcoming in-depth review!
Pentax HD D FA 15-30mm F2.8 Review Posted
Full-frame ultra wide zoom lens
By bdery in Hands-On Tests on Apr 18, 2017
To conclude our coverage of the trinity of three fast-aperture, professional lenses for Pentax full frame, we are happy to present our review of the HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR.
This lens is currently the widest full frame lens available new for Pentax DSLRs. With a constant F2.8 aperture, an ultra-wide focal length, it is a specialized lens that can serve for many tasks, from landscapes to interior photography. It completes a trio of fast zooms with the D FA* 70-200mm F2.8 and D FA 24-70mm. Read our review to find out how this new lens fared in our tests!
Review of the Everyday Sling Bag by Peak Design
By bdery in Hands-On Tests on Mar 28, 2017
Pentax has long been known for comparatively small camera bodies and lenses. Along with weather sealing, it is one of the highlights of the brand. Cameras like the K-3 and K-S2, in particular, are the smallest of their category.
With the advent of the Pentax K-1 and its lineup of large, fast zooms, things have changed a bit. The K-1 is still relatively small, hardly bigger than the older K20D for instance, but coupled with a 24-70mm or 70-200mm it does take up a lot of room.
Carrying larger equipment presents new challenges with no clear-cut solution. Camera bags are one of the most discussed topic in our Accessories forum, and everyone has an opinion on what is the perfect camera bag.
Today we take a look at Peak Design’s Everyday Sling, a diminutive bag which can still accommodate a surprising amount of gear. How well can it fit a full frame camera and its lenses?
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